Elite culture and

Elite culture and
people's culture

From Koran Tempo

President Megawati Soekarnoputri said that the burning of the
President's and Vice President's effigies in rallies staged to
protest against the hike in utility prices was indicative that
the people were lacking in respect and that their cultural values
had eroded.

The President said on Jan. 12 in Bali, that for the sake of a
better future of the people and nation, she must be ready to take
unpopular measures.

Before increasing fuel and utility prices, Megawati had agreed
to another unpopular measure by agreeing to the release and
discharge policy for business tycoons who had enriched themselves
and their companies through the liquidity support funds from Bank
of Indonesia.

The release and discharge policy is indeed strange for the
people in general, but is welcomed by the businessmen themselves,
whereas the hike in utility prices is of course unpopular with
the people

The cultural values of the people may have eroded, but in my
opinion, the cultural values of the leaders of the nation have
also declined because they have impoverished the people.

It may not be entirely incorrect to place the blame on the New
Order for the chaos, but it is the duty of the leaders to prevent
the ailing economy from getting worse.

DEHEN BINTI

Banjarmasin, East Kalimantan